Chalkboard and supporting means therefor



July 10, 1962 A. D. COLPO CHALKBOARD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR FiledNov. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W 3 Q 1 1 0 ....A./ 0 /w 6 w MI W M 1 10rd 6 m .r

w BK w 0 l nfi 1?. 211. 2L 7 INVENTOR. ALBERT D. COLPO BY ATTYS.

July 10, 1962 A. D. COLPO CHALKBOARD AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1961 INVENTOR. A LBERT D. COLPO BY Q um.

ATT YS.

rates v Patented July 10, 1962 3,043,023 CHALKBQARD AND SUPPGRTING MEANS'IHEREFGR Albert D. Colpo, 3797 Kaufifman Road, Stow, Ohio Filed Nov.21, 1961, Ser. No. 153,949 Claims. (Cl. 35-63) This invention relates tochalkboards for Wall mounting in schoolrooms, offices, and the like, andto the combination of such boards with the mounting means.

In recent years, slate chalkboards have been replaced with boards madeof a steel sheet, the outer surface of which is appropriately treated toadapt it to receive chalk, and with the metal sheet being usuallyadhesively secured to a backing sheet of fiber or strawboard, theresulting laminate being mounted in a frame and secured to a wall in theposition desired. However, known framing and frame mounting techniquesleave much to be desired. The frames are often cumbersome, expensive, ordifiicult to manufacture, and mounting techniques are difiicult, and areeither insecure, or are so permanent that the changing of the boards toa new location becomes exceedingly diflicult.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcomethe foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior artpractices by the provision of a relatively simple, inexpensive, highlyattractive, and durable and long-wearing chalkboard assembly andframing, together with a simple, rapid, mounting technique which notonly holds the chalkboard securely in position on a wall, but whichpermits the changing of the boards to a new location should this becomedesirable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a permanent,attractive, warp-free framing for a chalkboard, the framing being madefrom extruded metal, such as aluminum, and with the framing beingquickly secured to a chalkboard even though the board is of an odd orspecial size.

Another object of the inveniton is to provide a framing for achalkboard, the framing having an E-shape in cross section, the top andmiddle leg of the E engaging the chalkboard, and the lower leg of the Eengaging the wall and providing a mounting flange for the assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of framing for achalkboard, which framing adapts itself to the mounting of a cork board,or the like, together with the chalkboard.

\Another object of the invention is to provide improved mounting meansin combination with a framed chalkboard, the mounting means being simpleand inexpensive and being capable of handling an installation or reuseby the original installer of the boards, or by a maintenance man in aschool, and serving to hold the chalkboard securely in position on awall, but facilitating changes of position of the chalkboard should thisbe necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedcombination whereby the chalkboards can be adjusted vertically on awall, and held firmly in any adjusted position, by relatively simple,positive, inexpensive, and readily operated means.

The foregoing objects of the invention, and other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by theprovision of the combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of ametal sheet having a surface treated to take chalk, a relatively thickcomposition board adhesively secured to the metal sheet, an extrudedmetal frame having an E shape in cross section surrounding the sheet andboard, the legs of the E being cut away at the corners, the middle andoutermost legs of the E engaging the sheet and board and the innermostleg of the E engaging the wall, the frame having ends butting at thecenter bottom of the frame, a chalk tray of extruded metal having ahorizontal flange engaging under the frame, a vertical flange engagingand covering the front of the lower edge of the frame, and a horizontalflange forming the chalk tray and extending forwardly of the top edge ofthe vertical flange, means for fastening the chalk tray to the frame,and brackets secured to the supporting wall and engaging behind theinnermost leg of the top edge and the side edges of the frame.

In the preferred practice of the invention brackets engaging with theside edges of the frame have a long leg at one side of the frame and ashort leg at the other whereby the innermost flange at one side of theframe can be stabbed behind the long legs of the brackets, and theopposite edge of the frame can be swung past the short legs of theopposite brackets and then the whole frame moved laterally to engage theinnermost flange of the frame behind the short legs of the bracketswithout moving the opposite side of the frame completely off the longlegs of the opposite brackets, and means in the frame movable intoengagement with at least certain brackets to lock the frame againstlateral movement thereon.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a chalkboard assembly and mountingbrackets constructed in accord with the principles of the invention; 7

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view, partially brokenaway, and taken substantially on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of securing thechalkboard assembly to the mounting brackets;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view,partially broken away, and showing the improved combination for mountingthe chalkboards for vertically adjustable positioning upon a wall;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, slightly enlarged, of the top mountingbracket utilized in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but of the bottom mounting bracketof FIG. 9.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a chalkboardassembly having a frame 12 and a chalkboard sheet 14. The chalkboardsheet 14 has a surface appropriately treated so that it will take chalk,and by this is meant that it can be written on with a piece of chalk.The most conventional chalkboard sheets now constitute a relatively thinsheet of metal 16, such as steel, the outer surface of which has beenappropriately treated so that it will take chalk. Adhesively secured tothe back of the metal sheet 16 is arelatively thick sheet 18 of acomposition board, such as fibers impregnated with a suitable hinder,the exact composition of this board forming no part of the presentinvention. The composition board 13 can be of various thicknesses,usually from about onequarter inch up to about one-half inch inthickness, the better boards having the greater thickness, and thisboard acts not only to support the metal sheet 16, and to keep it frombowing, but acts a a sound deadening means. The chalkboard sheet 14 isnormally of a polygonal shape, such as a rectangle, and is of anydesired size for the use to which it is to be put. In chalkboards forschools the board may be from three to four feet high, and may be fromfive to twelve feet long.

The frame 12 of the assembly of the invention, is made from extrudedmetal, such as aluminum or its alloys, and as seen in the variouscross-sectional views of the drawings, the frame is made with an E-shapein cross section having an upper leg 20, a middle leg 22, usually ofmore than twice the length of the upperleg 20, and a lower leg 24usually slightly shorter than the upper leg 20. The chalkboard sheet 14is of a thickness to be snugly received between the upper leg 20 and themiddle leg 22 of the frame 12, in the manner best seen in FIG. 2, andwith the lower leg 24 of the frame 12 serving to engage flatly againstthe mounting wall, all as hereinafter more particularly described. Forpurposes of simplicity, the mounting wall has been shown only inconjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7.

The frame 12 is extruded as a long metal strip, and this strip is cut toa length, prior to framing, so that it will extend completely around theperiphery of the chalkboard sheet 14. In actually laying the metal frame12 around the chalkboard sheet 14 the legs 20, 22 and 24 of the frameare cut away in 90-degree notches so that the frame 12 can be bent toform a mitered corner, like frame. Stated in another manner, the rightangle or V- shaped notches cut in the legs 20, 22 and 24 of the E-shaped frame extend down to the upright portion of the E of the E-shapedframe, but not through the upright portion. This not onlyfacilitatesbending of the frame about the corners, but also insures thatthe frame does not have to be cut completely through. The ends of theone-piece frame 12 are normally cut to engage or substantially engage inabutting end to end relation usually at the center of the bottom of theframe, this point of engagement being indicated by the dotted line 28 inFIG. 1.

Secured to the lower horizontal edge of the frame and board assembly isa chalk tray, indicated as a whole by the numeral 30 and shown in detailin FIG. 5. The chalk tray 36 includes a horizontal lower flange 32extending under the lower edge of the frame, an integral vertical flange34 extending over the front edge of the frame, and an integralhorizontally extending flange 36 directed outwardly from the top of thevertical flange 34 and shaped as a flat tray to receive chalk. A filletflange 38 engages with the outer surface of the chalkboard sheet 14 tocomplete the assembly of the chalk tray. The chalk tray 31) is normallymade of the same extruded metal as the remainder of the frame, and isheld in the position indicated by means of a plurality of bolts 40extending through the vertical flange 34 and the frame 12.

It is often desirable in a chalkboard assembly to provide along the topor the side of the board one or more panels of cork so that these corkpanels can serve as bulletin boards for any announcements or materialsto be thumbtacked, for example, thereto. The present invention isparticularly adapted to providing chalkboards having cork panelsassociated therewith. In FIG. 1, a cork panel 42 is illustrated, thisbeing separated from the chalk 14 by a divider 44. FIG. 3 illustrates ingreater detail 7 the divider 44 formed of extruded metal of a typesimilar to the rest of the frame, and having an H-shape in crosssection. The upright leg of the H of the divider forming the outersurface of the divider being relatively short whereas the opposite legof the H is relatively long to provide more complete support for thecork board 42 and the chalkboard sheet 14. The corkboard 42 willgenerally be formed to a thickness of a quarter of an inch or slightlygreater, and will be adhesively secured to a relatively stiff backingsheet 46 of pressed wood, such as Masonite.

The manner of securing the ends of the divider 44 into the frame 12 isbest seen in FIG. 4. This is achieved by cutting away the cross leg ofthe H of the H-shaped divider 44 back a distance of three-quarters of aninch or so, which then allows the long leg of the H of the divider to bebent as shown at 50 in FIG. 4 and attached by a screw 52 to the long leg22 of the E of the frame 12. The short leg of the divider 44 is cut tojust abut, as at 54, with the outermost leg 20 of the E of the frame 12.

Coming now to the manner of mounting the assembly as described upon avertical wall, the invention provides a plurality of brackets indicatedas a whole by the numeral 60. The brackets are more specifically shownin FIGS. 6 and 7, and these brackets are usually formed of steelstampings of the cross-sectional shape shown and having a length of fromabout one to about two inches. Each bracket 60 has one leg or flange62approxirnately one-half inch long and a short leg or flange 64one-half the length of the leg 62, for example one-quarter of an inch,both the legs 62 and 64 being offset from the base 66 of the bracket adistance substantially equal to the thickness of the leg 2.4 of the E ofthe frame 12. The bases 66 of each bracket 60 are adapted to be securedto the mounting wall by suitable fastening means, such as toggle bolts,screws, or the like. Screws 68 are shown in the drawings as one typicalmeans for fastening.

FIG. 6 illustrates that a plurality of brackets are positioned in ahorizontal row on the wall at a desired height so that when they engagewith the frame the chalkboard assembly is positioned at the properheight on the wall. This top row of brackets is mounted with the longleg 62 of the bracket uppermost, and FIG. 6 illustrates clearly how theinnermost leg 24 of the E of the frame 12 engages behind the long leg 62of the bracket 60 to vertically support the chalkboard assembly and tohold it snugly against the Wall.

FIG. 7 illustrates that the row of brackets 60 along the left-hand edgeof the frame 12 are mounted with the long legs 62 of each bracket to theleft, and that the row of brackets 60 mounted along the right-hand edgeof the frame 12 are mounted with the short leg 64 of each bracket to theright. The spacing horizontally between the vertically aligned row ofbrackets at the left-hand side of the frame and the vertically alignedrow of brackets at theright-hand side of the frame is such, as

best seen in FIG. 8, that the leg-24 of the E of the frame can bestabbed down behind the long leg 62 of each bracket 60 and theright-hand side of the frame can then be swung down in the direction ofthe arrow 70 with the leg 24 at this 'side of the frame swinging pastthe short leg 64 of the row of brackets at that side of the frame. Thisoperation is demonstrated in the figure at the left-hand 'side of FIG.8.

Now the entire frame is moved to the left in the direction shown by thearrow 72 to bring the leg 24 at the right-hand side. of the frame behindthe short legs 64 of the brackets 61} at the right side of the frame,all without moving the leg 24 at the left side of the frame out frombehind the longer legs '62 on the brackets 60 at the left side of theframe. The described action can be achieved preferably beforeth'e frameis lowered down into vertical engagement with the top horizontal row ofbrackets 60 but it can usually be achieved, as well, by a slight warpingof the frame even though the frame is already supported vertically uponthe top horizontal row of brackets.

In order to prevent lateral movement and loosening of the frame andboard assembly on the Wall once it is in position as described, suitablemeans are provided for engagement between the frame 12 and the-brackets60. These means can take the form of screws 74 tapped into the frame 12and engaging with the ends of the long legs 62 of the brackets 60 at theleft of the frame. FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate a modification of theinvention particularly adapted to allow for vertical adjustment of theposition of a chalkboard assembly on a wall. More specifically, thenumeral indicates one of a plurality of conventional fastening channelspositioned in vertically directed, horizontally spaced position on awall and secured thereto by suitable fastening means not shown.

These channels are of the type Well known in mounting adjustableshelves, and wherein the channel has a U- shape in cross section, ismade of steel, and is provided with a plurality of vertically spacedslots on the front face of the channel, such slots being indicated bythe numeral 82.

Any selected slot 82 is adapted to removably receive an ear 84 extendingrearwardly from a top bracket, indicated as a whole by the numeral 86and best seen in FIG. 10. The bracket 86 includes a flat plate 88, andthe ear 84 extending rearwardly therefrom is welded or peened to theplate 88, or is struck out from the plate as part of the stamping of theplate. The plate 88 also is formed integrally with two upwardly andforwardly extending fingers 90, and these fingers are adapted to engagebehind the innermost leg 24 of the E of the frame 12 of the chalkboardassembly constructed as heretofore described.

FIG. 11 indicates as a whole by the numeral 92 a bottom bracket havingan upstanding flange 94 to which is secured an ear 96, similar to thecar 84, and with the car 96 being adapted to be received in any selectedslot 82 in the upright channel 80, all in the manner shown in FIG. 9.Formed integrally with the upright flange 94 is a horizontal flange 93which engages under the bottom of the frame 12, and with the flange 98having a short vertical flange 1% at its forward edge engaging with theforward face of the lower edge of the frame 12. The bracket 92, as wellas the bracket 86 is made of stamped steel and possesses relatively highstrength.'

In the use of the means of FIG. 9, two, three, or more verticallydirected, horizontally spaced channels 80 each with its upper bracket 86and its lower bracket 92 are normally employed to support a singlechalkboard assembly. If chalkboard assemblies are positioned in sideedge to side edge abutting relationship along the wall, it is usuallydesirable to position one of the channels 80 midway behind the abuttingside edge faces of adjacent chalkboard assemblies, and when this is donethe bracket 86 is wide enough so that one finger 90 engages with theframe of one chalkboard assembly and the other finger 95 engages withthe frame of the adjacent chalkboard assembly. In like manner, thebracket 92 will engage with the frames of the adjacent chalkboardassemblies. In any event, with the mounting as illustrated in FIGS. 9,10, and 11, it is a relatively simple matter to adjust the verticalposition of a chalkboard assembly on the mounting channels 80. This isaccomplished simply by raising the chalkboard assembly off the mountingbrackets 86 and 92, repositioning the brackets to the height desired,and then replacing the chalkboard assembly on the mounting brackets.

While a certain representative embodiment and details have been shownfor the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be. apparent tothose skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a metalsheet having a surface treated to take chalk, a relatively thickcomposition board adhesively secured to the metal sheet, an extrudedmetal frame having an E-shape in cross section surrounding the sheet andboard, the legs of the E being cut away at the corners,

the middle and outermost legs of the E engaging the' ing behind theinnermost leg of the top edge and the side edges of the frame, thebrackets engaging with the side edges of the frame having a long leg atone side of the frame and a short leg at the other side of the framewhereby the innermost leg at one side of the frame can be stabbed behindthe long legs of the brackets and the opposite edge of the frame can beswung past the short legs of the opposite brackets and then the wholeframe moved laterally to engage the innermost leg of the frame behindthe short legs of the brackets without moving the opposite side of theframe completely off the long legs of the opposite brackets, and meansin the frame movable into engagement with at least certain brackets tolock the frame against lateral movement thereon.

2. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a metalsheet having a surface treated to take chalk, a relatively thickcomposition board adhesively secured to the metal sheet, an extrudedmetal frame having an E-sha-pe in cross section surrounding the sheetand board, the legs of the E being cut away at the corners, the middleand outermost legs of the E engaging the sheet and board andv theinnermost leg of the E engaging the wall, the frame having ends buttingat the center bottom of the frame, a chalk tray of extruded metal, meansfastening the chalk tray to the lower edge of the frame,

brackets secured to the supporting wall and engaging behind theinnermost leg of the top edge and the side edges of the frame, thebrackets engaging with the side edges of the frame having a long leg atone side of the frame and a short leg at the other side of the framewhereby the innermost leg at one side of the frame can be stabbed behindthe long legs of the brackets and the opposite edge of the frame can beswung past the short legs of the opposite brackets and then the wholeframe moved laterally to engage the innermost leg of the frame behindthe short legs of the brackets without moving the opposite side of theframe completely off the long legs of the opposite brackets, and meansin the frame movable into engagement with at least certain brackets tolock the frame against lateral movement thereon.

3. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a metalsheet having a surface treated to take chalk, a relatively thickcomposition board adhesively secured to the metal sheet, an extrudedmetal frame having an E-shape in cross section surrounding the sheet andboard, the legs of the E being cut away at the corners, the middle andoutermost legs of the E engaging the sheet and board and the innermostleg of the E engaging the wall, the frame being formed from a singlelength of material and wrapped around the edge of the sheet and board, achalk tray, means fastening the chalk tray to the lower edge of theframe, brackets secured to the supporting wall and engaging behind theinnermost leg of the top edge and the side edges of the frame, thebrackets engaging with the side edges of the frame having a long leg atone side of the frame and a short leg at the other side of the framewhereby the innermost leg at one side of the frame can be stabbed behindthe long legs of the brackets and the opposite edge of the frame can beswung past the short legs of the opposite brackets and then the wholeframe moved laterally to engage the innermost leg of the frame behindthe short legs of the brackets without moving the opposite side of theframe completely off the long legs of the opposite brackets, and meansin the frame movable into engagement with at least certain brackets tolock the frame against lateral movement thereon.

4. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a metalsheet having a surface treated to take chalk, a relatively thickcomposition board adhesively secured to the metal sheet, an extrudedmetal frame having an E-shape in cross section surrounding the sheet andboard, the legs of the E being cut away at the corners, the middle andoutermost legs of the E engaging the sheet and board and the innermostleg of the E engaging the Wall, the frame having ends butting at the bottom of the frame, a chalk tray of extruded metal having a horizontalflange engaging under the frame, a vertical flange engaging and coveringthe front of the lower edge of the frame, and a horizontal flangeforming the chalk tray and extending forwardly of the top edge of thevertical flange, means for fastening the chalk tray to the frame, andbrackets secured to the supporting wall and engaging behind theinnermost leg of the top edge and the side edges of the frame. i

5. The combination in a chalkboard of a metal sheet having a surfacetreated to take chalk, a relatively thick composition board adhesivelysecured to the metal sheet, an extruded metal frame having an E-shape incross section surrounding the sheet and board, the legs of the E beingcut away at the corners, the middle and outermost legs of the E engagingthe sheet and board and the innermost leg of the E engaging the wall,the frame having ends butting at the center bottom of the frame, a chalktray of extruded metal having a horizontal flange engaging under theframe, a vertical flange engaging and covering the front of the loweredge of the frame, and a horizontal flange forming the chalk tray andextending forwardly of the top edge of the vertical flange, and meansfor fastening the chalk tray to the frame.

6. The combination in a chalkboard of a polygonal shaped sheet having asurface which will take chalk, an extruded metal frame having an E-shapein cross section surrounding the sheet, the legs of the E'being cut awayat the corners, the middle and outermost legs of the E engaging thesheet and the innermost leg of the E engaging the wall, the frame havingends butting at the bottom of the frame,.a chalk tray of extruded metalhaving a vertical flange engaging and covering the front of the loweredge of the frame, and a horizontal flange forming the chalk tray andextending forwardly of the vertical flange, and means for fastening thechalk tray to the frame.

7. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a boardhaving a surface capable of taking chalk, a frame surrounding the board,said frame having a leg-like flange adapted to flatly engage the walland positioned in an inward direction to lie behind the board, bracketssecured to the supporting wall and engaging behind the flange on the topedge and the side edges of the frame, the brackets engaging with theside edges of the frame having an eflectively long leg towards one sideof the frame and an efiectively short leg towards the other side of theframe whereby the flange at one side of the frame can be stabbed behindthe effectively long legs of the brackets and the opposite edge of theframe can be swung past the effectively short legs of the oppositebrackets and then the whole frame moved laterally to engage the flangeof the frame behind the efiectively short legs of the brackets withoutmoving the opposite side of the frame completely off the elfectivelylong legs of the opposite brackets, and means in the frame movable intoengagement with at least certain brackets to lock the frame againstlateral movement thereon.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the sheet is made in aplurality of pieces with at least one piece being adapted to receivethumbtacks, a divider of extruded metal having an H-shape in crosssection is provided between the pieces, the cross leg of the H being cutaway at the ends of the divider, and means fastening one leg of the H tothe frame at each end of v the divider.

9. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the center leg of the E islonger than the top and bottom legs.

10. The combination in a chalkboard and a supporting wall of a pluralityof vertically extendinglaterally spaced mounting strips havingvertically spaced slots therein, a plurality of brackets each having ahorizontal flange engaging under the lower edge of a chalkboard and avertical flange engaging with a strip, a finger on the back of thevertical flange engaging and locking in a downward direction in aselected slot in a strip, a second plurality of brackets each having avertically extending plate, a pair of laterally spaced outwardly andvertically upward directed clips on each plate, a finger on the back ofeach plate and engaging and locking in a downward direction in aselected slot in a strip, and a downwardly directed flange along theupper edge of the chalkboard engaging behind the clips on each plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,075,588 Meyers Mar. 30, 1937 2,521,603 Prew Sept. 5, 1950 2,679,700Urbain June 1, 1954 2,761,640 Frater Sept. 4, 1956 2,987,832 Urbain etal June 13, 1961

